 Hoarding 32 dogs and cats
Lincoln, IL (US)Date: Aug 25, 2003
County: Logan
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Joyce Beavers
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Logan County Animal Control wardens and Lincoln police Thursday morning confiscated 32 dogs and cats from a residence at 703 S. Monroe St., following a complaint received via an anonymous telephone call.
Four of the cats and 10 of the dogs were removed from the house Aug. 27, with permission of the homeowner, Joyce Beavers, according to Animal Control warden Vickie Loafman.
Animal Control wardens and Lincoln police picked up the remaining animals Thursday on a search warrant issued by Logan County Circuit Judge David Coogan.
Beavers faces more than $8,000 in fines for violating a Logan County ordinance for animal abuse, plus any veterinarian costs.
The anonymous caller phoned Animal Control Aug. 25, describing "poor living conditions and improper care" for the animals living at the residence, according to Loafman.
Two days later, while the first animals were being removed, Joyce Beavers' daughter, Wilma Beavers, who resides in the house with her boyfriend, Adam Reed, arrived and resisted the attempt to remove the animals, Loafman said.
Lincoln police responded to ensure the safe removal of the animals. Reed attempted to take some of the animals in a pet carrier, but when the police threatened to arrest him, he cooperated with the authorities, she said.
"(Conditions at the house were) the worst I have ever seen," said Loafman. "There were flies everywhere."
She said the stench from the animals' urine and feces was indescribable and for a while she thought she might become physically ill. The house did not have any fans or air conditioning, she said.
As she entered the kitchen of the two-bedroom house, she found four Chow-mix puppies lying on the floor amid piles and puddles of animal waste, she said, while cats were perched upon several of the appliances throughout the room.
Continuing through the house, she said her shoes were literally sticking to the hardwood floors of the hallway.
In a bedroom, she discovered a Pomeranian mother with five puppies, four Chihuahuas and more cats. Clothing piled on the bedroom floor contained piles of molded fecal matter, she said.
Only one litter box was found in the house for all 11 cats to share, she said.
"All the puppies taken from the home last week tested positive for having a fatal parasite," she said. "If they were not taken, they would have died."
The parasite, coccidiosis, infects the intestinal tract and is easily treated, but can be fatal if ignored. She said it's likely all the dogs will be infected.
The animals also were infested with fleas.
Loafman said every puppy had at least 50 fleas causing the puppies to scratch their skin raw, leaving their coats with scars and scabs.
"There were so many fleas, they were jumping off of them," she said.
Loafman said Joyce Beavers said the cats had been inbreeding and many were described as being thin and suffering from eye drainage.
The symptoms of illness in felines are not as easily detected by physical appearance as they are with dogs, Loafman said, adding that many of the cats were yet to be tested.
The welfare of the animals was the basis for serving the warrant, written by Assistant State's Attorney Jonathon Wright.
The ordinance violation for animal abuse ranges from class A to class C misdemeanors and includes felony charges if the abuse is severe, he said.
Loafman said she is waiting to hear from Animal Control's administration and the Logan County Board, which will determine whether further charges will be filed. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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